Finishing Up In The Black HIlls

After spending two complete weeks in the Black Hills area, it is now time to hitch up and move on down the road.

 

Sanford Lab Homestake Mine - Lead, SD

Over a period of 126 years, miners pulled more than 41 million ounces of gold and 9 million ounces of silver, worth billions, from the Homestake Mine, the largest mine in the western hemisphere. The mine closed in 2001 and left behind 370 miles of tunnels under the surface down to 8,000 feet. Sanford Labs purchased the property in order to conduct clean and quiet solar neutrino experiments 4,850 feet below ground. They were awarded a Nobel Prize in Physics for their work conducted here. There is a very elaborate Visitor Center as well as guided tours.

The surface mine is about a mile deep.



This sculpture features a stainless steel ring that “floats”
off the interior of a neutrino experiment tank support.



Friendship Tower on Mount Roosevelt near Deadwood, SD

We took a walking tour around Deadwood and had lunch at a casino. After lunch we hiked to this historic monument that was built by Seth Bullock of Deadwood in 1919 to honor his friend, President Theodore Roosevelt.



Friendship Tower is a short hike from a gravel parking area.



D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery - Spearfish, SD

Established in 1896, D. C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery, formerly Spearfish National Fish Hatchery, is one of the oldest operating hatcheries in the country. It is now managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service along with the State of South Dakota.

 

Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway

Bridal Falls

Crazy Horse Monument

We chose to skip the $28.00 admission and settled for
a picture of this still unfinished monument.

Jewel Cave National Monument - Custer, SD

Crystal Lined Passages

Third Longest Cave in the World

Custer State Park

This 71,000 acre park is centrally located in the Black Hills. Although, we took several drives through it while touring the area, we made a point of spending a couple of days in this South Dakota's first state park.

Peter Norbeck Visitor Center

Along the Wildlife Scenic Drive we saw a portion
of the 1,300 bison that reside in the park.

Mt. Coolidge Fire Tower Lookout

The 14 mile Needles Highway is spectacular.

The road winds between the granite spires.

In some cases the road winds through the granite spires.

Height 10 feet, Width 8 feet.

The Needle's Eye

Sylvan Lake